The Season Of Advent Celebrated With The Lighting Of Candles

Wednesday December 14, 2016

Peace. Forgiveness. Love. Stewardship.

These are the words we remember during the annual Advent By Candlelight celebration, in which the women of Calvary joined together to decorate tables, prepare desserts and invite friends to gather for a peaceful celebration of God’s loving promise.

And in the monthly newsletter, the Rev. David J. Hanna echoes these sentiments:

As we hear again familiar stories of faith, they live in our lives and light our path ahead. And so, this Advent and Christmas season, let’s remember that the story of God’s unconditional, unstoppable love goes on, written in the lives of ordinary people like you and me.

Today, we’d like to share with you the readings and Bible verses our members read as they lit the candles on the Advent Wreath at the Advent by Candlelight celebration last week.

The First Candle – Coming to Bring Peace

In anticipation of the coming of Christ, we light the first candle in the hope of peace and as a promise to work with Christ to bring it. Reading from Isaiah 11:6-9 and Ephesians 4:1-3.

The Second Candle – Coming to Forgive

In anticipation of the coming of Christ, we light this second candle in hope of full redemption for the whole world through the mercy and forgiveness of Christ. Reading from Isiah 40:1-5.

The Third Candle – Coming to Renew Love

In anticipation of the coming of Christ, we light this third candle for the love that springs from Christ, that flows through us, and that warms the whole world. Readings from Isaiah 11: 1-3 and 1 John 4: 16, 18-21.

The Fourth Candle – Coming to Feed the Hungry

In anticipation of the coming of Christ, we light this fourth candle as a promise that we will never forget the task he gives, to be stewards of this world and friends to its people. Reading from John 6:48-52.